compiled by Lila McGee Gobbell

Let me encourage you, if you have a computer, to go to the society’s web page. You do not have to be a subscriber to use the Archives/Society mail list. To go immediately to the Lawrence County Archives page you can visit http://home.lorettotel.net/~lcarchives/archives.htm The mail list is provided through Roots Web and is governed by their rules. To subscribe to the mail list:

To subscribe to TNLAWREN-L, send a message to TNLAWREN-L-request@rootsweb.com with the word subscribe as the only word in the subject line and in the text.

To subscribe to TNLAWREN-D, send a message to TNLAWREN-D-request@rootsweb.com with the word subscribe as the only word in the subject line and in the text.

The editor as the list administrator gives about four important policies for using the mail list.

LESSON # 1 – HAVE SOMEONE TELL YOU SOMETHING INTERESTING ABOUT YOUR ANCESTORS. This is sure to get you interested in starting on the genealogy path.

LESSON # 2 - HAVE SOME SHEER, DUMB LUCK! Quite often, fate plays a large role in our lives. The author tells how a book with the inscription inside the cover which read "Hugh Reynolds, his book $3.00, July 28, 1837" and learning that it was his great-great-grandfather help start his search. After getting a computer, putting in his g-g-grandfather’s name into the search engine, "Google", he was amazed to find a web site come up about him. He goes on to connect with researchers in Texas, also Nashville, TN, and in 2003, the Reynolds Family had a first time reunion in Florence, Al.

He found pictures and a wealth of genealogy information in his own attic and basement detailing the Reynolds Family.

LESSON # 3 – MAKE LOTS OF MISTAKES! This has always been easy for me to do.

One mistake I’ve learned is that you had better ask your relatives a lot of questions about their ancestors, because it will be difficult to find answers after they are gone. Another mistake is trying to keep up with your research just by writing it down. You need a good program like Family Tree Maker. The rewards of searching are great!

Cook/Anderson – Margaret "Peggy" Cook born 1808 in SC married John Anderson Apr. 9, 1828 in Lawrence County, TN. If you know what happened to John and Margaret Anderson after the 1860 census, please contact: Mary Anderson 4763 Hwy. 33 So., DeVall Bluff, AR 72041-9797

Anderson – John Anderson born 1807 in Scottsville, Allen County, KY, son of Benjamin Anderson born 1780 in VA. Contact: same address above.

A map to help you find the LCHS in Lawrenceburg where the Family History Fair has been held.

The editor outlines the set-up and activities throughout the day.

This is a continuation of a sequence of articles containing transcribed obituaries and death announcements found mostly in newspapers in Lawrence County, TN.

W. P. Bishop, arrested on the charge of assault and battery on Henry Thompson, the deceased brought about his death by choking himself with his handkerchief, tied to the grates, and merely extending around his neck. When sober, the deceased bore a good character, and led an exemplary life.

Rev. C. Bowden – Died at his residence, near Rippy’s stand

Jesse Brashears, having been wounded in three places, in the assault on Monterey in Mexico in the service of the United States, he seemed to be recovering when his constitution sunk during the late cold weather. He left a wife and one child. His funeral was attended by a very large number of our citizens in arms, under the command of his old captain and companion in danger and glory, Col. Alexander.

Wesley Briley

W. J. Buchanan, Sr. - leaves a wife, two sons and a daughter.

Robert Bumpas (colored) was shot at four times, last Saturday night. He died Monday morning.

Tribute of Respect – W. F. Bumpass - Report of committee to West Point Lodge No 279, F. And A. M. May 27^th, 1882. A true and conscientious mason until his death.

Asa Carrell, son of Judge Carrell

Thoms. M. Clark

Mrs. Anna Maria Elizabeth Cook, born in Weseke, Westphalen, Germany

Col. Wm. Counce, sale of property of Col. Wm. Counce a few weeks back.

William B. Craig – In Memoriam – These are the thoughts associated with the death of that noble and handsome young man, William B. Craig, who departed this life three weeks ago, aged seventeen.

Jane Crews, wife of J. N. Crews

Lucinda Rachel Crews, wife of J. B. Crews,

Mr. Joshua Day, married Mrs. Harriet Littrell some months ago

Col. A. T. Dobbins

Joseph Doyle

Dr. Wiley M. Edwards, died at the residence of L. C. Fowler. (An obituary found with letters of administration on his estate)

Ida D. Ewing, daughter of M. H. and Bettie Buchanan

Mrs. Ida Ewing, estimable wife of Henry Ewing, and daughter of Dr. M. H. Buchanan

Mrs. Elizabeth Ezell, widow of the late Miles Ezell. Died at the residence of Herbert H. Ezell, Second Creek

Sister Harriet Fields,  (To be continued in the Summer 2005 issue of the Journal)

Saturday Dec 4, 2004, 1:00 p.m. The meeting was called to order by President Wallace Palmore, with five members present. Treasury Report by Ricky Fleeman: There is $6,508.15 in the checking account. The board approved giving Kathy Niedergeses and Jim Crowder a gift of $100. Jason has some good ideas concerning the quarterly meetings and getting more members to attend.

Saturday Dec 4, 2004

The meeting began at 1:30 with fourteen members present. Treasury Report by Ricky Fleeman: There is a balance of $14,508.15. Lila Gobbell was in charge of the program. She gave a very

interesting genealogy of her family, mainly about her grandmother, BoBo McGee. She was a mid-wife for lots of farm families of her time. After the program, we had our "Christmas" refreshments.

A new book is being compiled on the James Moore family who was in Lincoln Co., NC, then to Lawrence and Wayne Counties. If anyone would like to contribute info or pictures, please contact Mary Nell Franks, 35 Dana Rd, Leoma, TN, 38468.

The top photo is of a very early dam. The bottom photo is of three gentlemen and six young ladies standing in a wagon with one gentleman holding the reins of the horse. In the background is several businesses with the one directly behind advertising insurance and a notary public. If you can identify anyone or anything for us, please contact Kathy at the Archives.

Anders Olsen Nordhagen and Ingrid Haraldsdatter were Norwegian immigrants. On May 31, 1851, this young family of three set sail on the bark Sjofna from Drammen, Norway. Their destination was New York City where they arrived on July 21, 1851.Upon arrival, immigration officials recorded Anders Olsen Nordhagen as Andrew Norton. This is the name that he kept for the rest of his life. Their third child born in Dane County, Wisconsin, where many other Norwegians settled, was Peter Andrew, born February 11, 1855. Peter married Agnes Jane Miller, September 3, 1875 (There is an insert telling about the Millers). It was common for Norwegian immigrant families to keep in close contact with other Norwegian immigrants. So it was with Peter and his brother, Michael. It was through one such group of Norwegian immigrants living in Middle Tennessee that they heard about Lawrence County. It was in Pleasant Point, Lawrence County, TN, that Charles Edward Norton was born. The two brothers farmed, but Peter’s business papers show that it was in lumbering that he was ultimately to achieve his financial success. Charles Edward was Peter’s oldest son. He met a family in Wayne County named Sharpe and on July 4, 1906, he married their daughter, Mollie Black at Natural Bridge (Wayne County, Tennessee). Peter Andrew Norton died in 1926 at which time he owned and operated a general mercantile store in Leoma, Tennessee, not unlike the one that his son and grandson would own in Lawrenceburg just six years later. Guy Miller Norton was the son of Charles Edward Norton, and the father of the author, Guy Miller Norton, Jr.

New Members: Mary G. Anderson, researching Anderson, Cook; Tim A. Brown, researching Little, Newton, Springer, Waldrum, Williams; Sharon E. Fondelier, researching Alsup, Blackwell, Crews, Galloway, Gower, Helton, McMasters, Roberts, Tankersley; Robert B. Fowler, researching Clayton, Vaughn; Randall (Randy) Hughes, researching Clayton, Crews, Emmert, Hughes, Hughs, McGee, Payne; Ruth Vickery. Several changes in e-mail addresses and addresses.

April Term 1845 through July Term 1845

William Davis, Estate Sale; Barneybas Gabel, Last Will; Thomas Choat, Guardian Settlement; Robert J. McLean, Guardian Settlement; Joseph Stephenson, Additional Sale Bill; Britian Keith, Sale Bill; Martin McAnnally, Guardian Settlement; William S. Dalton, Administrator Settlement;

John McLaren, Sr., Administrator Settlement; Simon Higgs, Last Will and Testament; William McAlester, Guardian Settlement; George Kidd, Account Statement. (To be continued in the Summer 2005 issue of the Journal)

Taken from the Bible of Ephraim McLean

John McLean first son of Ephraim and Elizabeth MLean was born June 1^st, 1761 through Robert Davidson McLean was born Ap 7^th 1783

Taken from the Bible of Robert Irvine McLean

R. J. McLean was borned on March 10^th 1832 through Robert Ervin (Brownie) McLean born Nov. 29,1907 (?); Elisa J. McLean died March 18^th 1870; R. J. McLean and J. J. Crews was married on July 10^th 1870 by Rev Robert Wright of the M. E. Church South

The Descendants of James McCracken and Allied Families, by Philip McCracken; 2004

James McCracken is believed to have been born 1754 in Scotland. He came to America in 1775 and served in the Rev. War. After his death in 1824, his wife Mary Smith McCracken moved from Madison Co., AL to Lawrence Co., TN with her son, John. The author is descended from James through his son, John > Calvin > John Wesley > George Franklin > Glen Ford > Philip Glen.

Recently Mildred J. Brown gave a very generous donation of Approximately 130 books on Virginia research to the Lawrence Co. Archives. These books were donated in the name of Mildred’s parents Charlie and Thelma Bryant Foster. The earliest time period is 1654 and the latest is 1853.

Obituaries of Lawrence County, TN 1950-1954, Obituaries of Lawrence County, TN 1955-1959 (2004), and Obituaries of Lawrence County, TN 1940-1949 (2005), by Nancy Lanning Crowder.

These three books continue the series of obituary books compiled by Mrs. Crowder. These books may be purchased by contacting the Lawrence County Archives, 218 N. Military Ave., Suite B-1, Lawrenceburg, TN 38464; 931-766-1576; lcarchives@lorettotel.net.

Obituaries of Lawrence County, TN 2003-2004, by Josephine Pickard; 2005. These obituaries are copied exactly as they appeared in the newspaper. They are arranged in alphabetical order by deceased person. This book can also be purchased from the Lawrence County Archives.

Norton’s Store – Charles Edward Norton, Sr. and his son, Guy Miller Norton, Sr. were partners in C. E. Norton and Son. About 1929, C. E. Norton purchased the stock of goods owned by the heirs of Mr. Brewer located in a small building at the northeast corner of the public square. By 1951-52, Charles E. Norton was full owner of the business with Guy retaining half interest in the building. The Nortons, for approximately fifty years, supplied Lawrence Countians with overalls, work shirts, work boots, piece goods and notions.

With this segment, I will begin with the July 1884 term of court and continue through October 1889. Most lists of paupers and the amount allowed are for the preceding term of court.

County Minute Book April 1884-June 1887

[A few examples]

Name of Pauper Term of Court Care Taker/Action/Amt. Page

S. Blair July 1884 Frank Blair allowed $7.50 70

Ira Clifton July 1884 J. P. Kidd allowed $20.00 70

Mary Clayton July 1884 allowed $12.00 70

Martha Fisher (burial) October 1885 W. H. Dustin & Co. allow. $2.50 281

Bob Bumpass (coffin) October 1885 A. F. Kelley allowed $3.00 281

Mary Bumpass (col.) July 1887 allowed $92.00 3

(To be continued in the Summer 2005 issue of the Journal)

Consort And Relic – A consort is a wife (or husband). A relic is a widow.

Dower and Curtesy – Dower is wife’s interest in her husband’s real property. Curtesy is the interest a husband takes in his wife’s real estate.

Homestead – This is the family residence. In probate law, homestead is generally considered to be the house and adjoining land where the head of the family lives.

Marital Interests – includes the wife’s dower and the husband’s curtesy in the other’s real estate, a wife’s right to a year’s support, wither the husband’s or wife’s right to exempt property, and homestead.

Year’s support or sustainace – This is a provision for the widow, who has certain rights in respect to her husband’s estate. [There are good examples with each of these terms]

last updated April 14, 2008                        Return to Main Page